Firearm,



G. M. FORMBY.

FIREHM.

APPLICATION lLiD MAR. 23. i911 RENEWED NOV. 5.1919.

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G. M. FORMBY.

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HREARM.

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Patented J une 15, 1920.

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APPLICATION FILED MAR 23.19II. HUIHEEU NOV. I. i915. 1,343,444.

Patented June 15, 1920.

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' gunman CIIINUHI UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. FORMBY, F JACKSONVILLE. FLORIDA.

FIREAM .Application tiled March 23. lill?. Serial No. 156,985.

To all 'whom it my concern:

Be it known that I, Gnonuc M. Former.

a citizen of the United States residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Firearms; an I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates tc certain new and useful improvements in automatic guns and contemplates more especially an im roved rifle having en automatic cartridge ceding mechanism.

An ob]ect of the present invention is thc reduction of an automatic gun including m combination an automatic cartridge feeding mechanism', and a cooperating breech mechanism and ring chamber for receiving the cartridges in ra id succession and ejecting the empty shel s .after each car -tridge is ex loded without the loss of the owers of t e gases in the e3ection of said shell beiore the bullet leaves the muzzle of l"the gun,

Another object of this invention is to pro ducean automatic gun having an automatic cartridge magazine feeding evice designed to successive y position loaded magazines beneath coperating breech and firing mechanism and means, including the folte magazine, for automatically operatn the cartridge magazine feeding device, a ter the last cartrid in each magazine has been deliveredV to t e gun.

A. further object lower of' 36 of this invention is the reduction of an automatic gun including m combination a novel form of firing cham ber provided in a movable block member and cooperatively associated with the barrel and movable breech block.

A still further object of this invention is to roduce an automatic n having a novel reech mechanism, an

a combined multiple magazine cartrxd e -holder and supportin' member,

both o the said latter elements ing detachably secured to the un in substantially vertical alinement with tue aforesaid breech mechanism for efectively balancin the gun when held in the arms, supporte upon the knee, or rested upon the ground.

es with these nd other objects n view the Spcclcatlcn of Letters Patent.

.the ring chamber and coperatin Patented June 15. 1920.

Renewed November l. |019. Strlal No. 335,101.

invention further consists in the combinationand arrangement of the several parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims.

n In t e drawings which show by way o! illustrutlon an embodiment of my .inven tion:

Figure l is a sectional elevation of my improved gun shown supported upon the ground;

F1 2 1s a top plan view thereof, showmg t emultiplemagazines to oncsde of the gun, and in a osition to be moved beneath the breech mec anism as the cartridges are discharged.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view through the breech mechanism of the un showing the osition of the Firing chamer, and breech-b ook when the cartridge is to be fired.

Fi 4 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view similar to that of Fig. 3 showing the position of breechblock when the cartridge has been red and the firing chamber is a short distance in the barrel o the gun.

Fi 6 is a detail sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a detail cross-sectional view through the coperating breech-block mem- Fig. 8 is an enlar ed sectional view through the breech mec anism showing the position of the firing chamber and the cooperating breechb1oclc when 'the cartridge is fed into the firing chamber, the prior empty shell having been ejected 1n the usual in. It comprises, among leasing lug or whereby continuous tiringma be engaged ot er things r. breech mechanism cons` of a. movable firing chamber; s breech ook; an automatic cartridge ma fne f g nism for successive bringing the loaded ma eines beneath t e' breech mechanism; an means for actuating the aforesaid de vices, as will more fully hereinafter appear. Referring to the drawings, the gun may be of a standard type and com rises the usual stock 1, barrel 2, and the ot 1er usual parts, all of whehnm)T be of the ordinary meus nrements required for army and other ases. The improvements contemplated comprises novel breech-nuwlmnism for uccessiveiy psitioning the cartridges within the lx1-m chamber iu a continuous manner for rapi firing. The mechanism for accomplslll; this comprises' a. breech block a b 1 chamber 3 which ma be formed as a'ut of the barrel 2. and 1e former of whi is relatively movable as each cartridge is iired and another one positioned in the firing chamben Llipernting with the movable breech block is a tiring chamber 5. The tiring chamber is movable within the permenant breech chamber 3 and .is withdrawn itherefrom after each discharge of a. cartri 'eby the breech block 4. Spring latch mec anism 'i' is carried bv rthe breech lock 4 and engages the ilnngedend 8 of the firing chomber,.as shown in Figs. and 5. AA. re-

cam D is provided in the path of this latch and ae the breech block 4 and firing chamber 5 are moved rearwardly by the recoil from the discharge of the cnrtri the latch 7 will be operated by contacting with the cam or trip 9 and the firing chamber returned to its position in the permanent breech chamber 3. Suitable springs 10 are oppoeitelv disposed within re-f cessss formed in the wall of breech chamber 8, and serve to return theiirin) chamber 5 Y (see Fig. 4). These springs are inter- Abetween heads 11 provided en rods 12 seemed to the Ilanged en d 8 o! the iiri'ng chamber. The recoil of the breech block 4 is absorbed by the spring' 14 interposed between the end 'wal of the gun casing and the protruding stud 15 carried by the breech bloc 4. v. l

As sbownin Fig. 5 of the drawings,the s ring 14 is compressed when the breech b oel: 4 has reached its rearward position. A suitable valve 16 is provided adjacent and serves' to admit air w en the cooperate ing breech block 4 returns to its position ca ng with it a cartridge to be positionedv in t ne iiring chamber 5.

The tri er meehan'm desi to iii-e the eartrii ge when positioned 1n the firing chamber may be oi .the usual eonstrm'tion and for the purpose shown herein is con- The tri 'er1 ispivotedatililandasitispulled b e action of the against the ten sion of the spr'ln 21 lower end of the hammer 17 1s easedand pulled by the action of a spring 22, there giving a blow to the iiri pm 23 for 'scharg' the cartridge. e firing pin 23 ma of usual construction, land 1s herein :own .as returned to its normal position by the spring 24.

The mechanism fotositionin a cartridgeasitisfedu w yiromtiemagaaine comprises a ever 25 pivotcd at 26 to the cooperating breech block 4 and held inst the hammer 17 by s suitable spring 2 It will be seen that as the coerating breech block 4 moves forwardl t e front end of the lever 25 e t e ce end the firing. chamber. While the cartridge is beingr pos'tioned within the tiring chamber the movable breech block 4- is momentarily held in the osition shown in Figs. 5 and 8 by a spring tch device 46 designed to drop into a recess 4i' formed in the breech block 4 when it is driven rearwardly by the recoil from the discharge of the cartridge. After the cartridge has-been roperly positioned within the firing chem er of the block 5 the breech block 4 is released by means ci the lever 48 being-moved by the flange 8 of the firing chamber 5 `as it is retracted and seated against the breech chamber member 3 ha the springs' 10. It will he seen that'as t e end 49 of the lever 48 is p outwardl;r by the ange 8 of the chamber 5, the opposite end 50 of the lever will release the springlatch 46 and allow the recoil s ring 14];0 force the breech block 4 forwa carrymg with it e. cartridge to be seated .against the rmanent breech chamber 8.

The multiple ma ezine holder com rises theca 80 intow ich a pluralit o cartridge ho ding magazines These bangle lever 25 and ositioned in the firme c ber. A s ringr isinterposed between tige magazine ollower 34 and tietbotlom of t e magasine. xe urpose o t is spring is to feed the cartridlges n wardl'y as they are 'successively discharge from the ma. the curved portions 82 serving to vhold them until the uppermost cart-ridge is removed.

The magazine holder is adapted to 'be moved after enclrmagnzine has been exhausted of its contents, and the. mechanism for operatingthc same comprisesa apringr .charged 85 one end of which is secured to the support 36 and the other end of which is serureil to the casing 37 secured to the magazine holder. A spring latch 38 is carried by the gun (see Figs. l, S and l1), and serves to lock the magazine holder during the discharge of the cartridges from the magazines as they are successively brought bent-ath thc breech-block mechanism. As the last cnrtridge in the magazine is fired, the tollower 34 is designed to engage the protrudingr end 39 of the hitch 38 and press it inwardly against the action of thc spring 40. When the latch 38 is thereby released thc spring 35 will move the magazine holder in nn ari-nate direction until the next magazine is reiirheil. when the latch 38, having been freed, will engage the recess 4l formed in said niagazine holder and hold the same in positioe. until the contents of that magazine are dis charged, after which a similar o eration or curs until the entire contents o the ma :izines carried by the holderare discharge( The `mechanism for ejecting the shell from the firing chamber comprises a spring hitch 42 pivoted in the cooperating breech-blni-lr member 4. The latch 42 is designed to engage the flange of the shell and4 hold the same within the recess 43 until the firing chamber 5 has been returned to its position, after which the spring ressedpin 44 o positely arran ed with re ation to the latcli 42 tends to kic the shell outwardly through the opening 45 in the gun casing.

i-Vhile I have shown this means for ejecting the shell it will be readily understood that other forms :nay be employed. The support 36 yfor the gun is braoedat its lower end by the connection 51 extending from the magazine holder. It comprises a rod, the upper end of which is detachably secured to the gun by means of a bolt 52 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and the. ower end of which is rovided with a suitab 'e sup orting surfaci- 3 preferably of disk like ori-nation. As shown in Fig. 1, the'gun is resting upon the Iground thereby affording a convenient and stable su y port for the gun when being dism a lying down position. When the gun is Bred 'from a squatting position, the supporting surface 53 1s reste upon the kneehthereby giving to the gun a steadiness which is always desirable. When the gun is fired from e standing position it will readily be understood that the loaded magazine holder naturally swings beneath the arm in a substantially balanced position, thereby failitatin the aim and gripping ofthe gun for accura e shooting.

The o eration of the gun follows: Referring to igs. 3, 5 and B of the drawings, three positions of the breech mechanism and associated'parts are shown. In Fi 3 the breech mechanism is shown close in the position for discharging a cartridge. The

chamber 5 is shown firmly sented in thc breach chamber 3. the coperating breech block 4 is shown jammed against thc lanpi 8 ofthe ring chamber 6, the spring latch 7 thereof having,r engaged the flange 8 :is shown. lt will be seen that as the trigger 19 is pulled the firing pin 23 will be struck :i blow by the hammer 17 and the cartridge discharged.

As the bullet leaves the shell of thc cnr tridgc and has proceeded but a short diev tance in the barrel of the gun the movable breech block 4 will recoil against the tension of the. spring i4 drawing with it the firing chamber 5 by virtue of the spring latch ronnection hereinbefore described. It will be noted that one end of the firing chamber 5 remains within the breech-chamber 3, thcrcbv confining all of the gases of the explosion until the bullet leaves the muzzle ofthe gun. As the breech-block 4 reaches its renc most position the latch 7 is operated by contacting with the lug 9, thereby releasing the firing: chamber 5 which is then returned to its seated position within the permanent breech-chamber 3 by the action of the springs l0. Just prior to the firing chamber 5 completely seating in the breech-chamber 3 the flange 8 of the said Firing chamber strikes the end 49 of the lever 48 and presses it outwardly, thereby releasing the spring latch device 46 from within the recess 47 and allowing the coperating breech block 4 to be forced by the action of the recoil spring t4 against the flange 8 of the firing chamber. Before the coperating breechblock 4 is released, however, a cartridge from the magazine beneath the breech mechanism has been positioned for loading the gun, and it will be seen that as the cooperating breech block 4 is forced forwardly the end of the lever 25 engages the capped end of the positioned cartridge and pushes it from the magazine directing it into the firing chamber -5 just prior to the flange 8 seating against the breech-chamber 3. As the coperating breech block 4 moves or wardly the cartridge is forced into the Firing chamber and the spring latch 42 engages the liange of the shell for holding it within the recess 43. When the cartridge has been discharged and the coperating or movable breech block 4 recoils, the spring latch 42 serves to hold the empty shell within the recess 43 until the drin chamber 5 has been returned by action o the spring 10, after which the ejecting pin 44 serves to kick thc shell outwardly through the opening 45 in the casing of the gun.

When the last cartridge in the magazine immediately beneath the breech mechanism has been discharged, the forward end of the follower 34 is designed to engage the protruding end 39 of the spring,r latch 38 andpress it inwardly against the action ol* lUO to arcuate v move the said ho der until the suma-odin f magazine is positioned beneath the lil-wei mechanism, at which time the ring lamb-38 will enga the recess 4l. lilornwd inthe upper om of theholder and maintain it in fpeiixiaxicnt relation to the tiring chamber o the gon until the cartridges in that magexine have beei`i ldischargu-d, whereupon the operation is repeated until thc entire eontenteof the magazine holder have been exhausted.

When it is desired to detach the magazine holder aud su )port 36 from the gun, the `holt 52 is wi idrawn, as will be readily understood. From the foregoing it will be obvious that I' have produced an automatic gun capable of eifectinga continuous discharge of cartridges and at the same time poascsiing novel features of action foi-readily rcs-civin v the cartridges in succession.

What 1' c aim is: y

l. An automatic gun of the class deF scribed lincluding in combination a breach mw'lmnimn consisting of a iuiriiiauent Imc-l|cl|a|nlw|- and a movable `breechblock, a firing chamber movable-in seid marient buur-.li-eliamber, moans for loc the movable breech-block to the .ri chamber for moving the latter from mancut bleach-chamber when the cartridge is ex dodcd. releasing means for said ring cham vcr. means for returning the -liring elmmbcr from its moved position, rctainin imams for baldi r the movable breech bloc in its recoil Position means for releasing the movable inercia-block, and a cartridge fmalnfdcvice for positioning tliclooded vai'trie gc in the firing chamber.

2. An automatic gun .of the class de scribed including in combination' a breech mechanism c onaiatingA of a iermanent ln'eiwflechamher and a movab e breechblack, a lirin v chamber, .means including a alu-ing lhitch or looking theinovablc breechb nek lo the firing chamber for moving tl'ie latter ia the permanent breech-chamber when the mn'trnlge is exploded, releasing means for said firing chamberdesi to `operata the sring latch when the movable lunedi-block as reached its recoil position,

melma including a; spring forreturning the firing chamber frein-ibi recoil position into the permanent breech-chamber, retaining imams including a sgring latch for hoiding the movable breeclr loc in the recoil ition. means for ejecting the empty ehel as llw lll-ing chamber is returned to ite normal pmitinnin the permanent breech-chamber, imams for relaas' the movable 'breechblock, said moans Iring ehamhenand a mirlridgc feeding derive for pix-:itiouing lhe loaded cartridge in the tiring cluinibcr.

ing operated' by the imam 3 An automatic gun of the clubs described inclnding in combination a breech mechanism of a fixed breechcliamber and a movable breech-block, a tiring chamber, ineens including a latch for locking the movable bieecli-y l to the firing climber for moving the letter out of the permanent breech v when the cartridge is exploded, releasing means for said firing chamber designed to operate tlic spring latch when the iliovahle breechbloiklias itis recoil positiii, qans inc iu mg a sprl oi' returning 1e chamber from it; recoil position into tlli permanent breech-chamber, retuiniig means 3o mclndinga sgriiig' latch for hol ing the movable reec -bock in the recoil position, means carried by the movable breech-block for cjecting the empty shell when the iii-ing chamber is returned to its normal position in the permanent bieecli-eliamber, means for releasing the movable breech-block, said means being o erated by the firing chamber immediatelyore it reaches its normal position in the permanent breech-chamber. and a cartridge positionn device carried by thcinovable breech-bloc for directing a loaded cartridge within the firing chamber. la-An automatic gun of the class described including ni combination a breech mechanism consisting of a lireech-chnmherand a movable breech-block. a iii-ing chamber. means including a Hering latch for loi-king the movable breech-b ook to the liring chamber for moving` the latter from the permanent breeohfelioniheij when the cartrid is exploded. releasing means for said chamber designed to operate the spring latc when the movable bi'cecli-blocl': has reached its recoil position, means including a spring for Areturning the firing chamber from its ncoil position into the breeclechamber,| retaining means including a spring latch for holding the movable baumeln-block in the recoil mition, means carried by the movable breei-block for ejecting the einptv shell when 'the firing chamber is retnrne to its normal position in the breech-chamber,

means for releasing the movable breech- ,biocln said men-ne being operated by the firing chamber immediatelv before it reaches its normal position in the breech-cliamber` und means carried by the movable. breech block for engaging a loaded cartridge and directin it within the firing chamber. and a eartrii ge magazine feeding device for aneceesively positioninf the loaded cartiid A within the path o the inca-ns carried theinorable breech-block for en 'iig a loaded cartridge and directing itwitlin the firing chamber.

5. An automatic in ofthe class described including in mimlnnation a breech mechanism consisting of u breech-chanibi'r und a movable breech-block, a tiring chamber mov- 13e able in said breech-chamber, mea ns for locking the movable breech block to the firing chamber for moving the latter from the breechhamber when the cartridge is exloded, releasing means for said firinfr chamer, means for returning the firing ciamber from its recoil position, retainimr means for holding the movable breech-biagi( in its recoil osition, means for releasing the movable breech-block, a cartridge posltioning device carried by the movable breech-block for enga in a loaded cartridge and directing it within t e firini1r chamber, a multiple magazine cartridge holder, and means for automatically positioning a loaded magazine beneath the cartridge positionin device carried by the movab e breech-bloc (i. An automatic un ofthe class described including in combination a breech mechanism consistinfr of a breech-chamber and a movable breech-block, a firing chamber designed to be moved by the movable breechblock by the recoil from the explosion, means including e spring for absorbing the recoil of the movable breech-block, a chamber for said spring, and a valve provided in said chamber for admitting air to the said chainber when tile spring returns the movable breech-block to its normal position.

7. A gun of the class described in combination with a cartridge feeding device com rising a multiple magazine cartridge bol er, a support for said holder, means including a spring secured to said holder and the said support for successively moving the holder, releasing means for said holder and means for operating the releasing means when the last cartridge in a magazine has been delivered to the gun for permitting the aforesaid spring to move the multiple magazine holder.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE M. FORMBY.

lVitnesses:

MARGARET D. BALLAUF, WM. E. Dm. 

